Apple Blocks Mobile Music App from UK Music Retailer

Published on: 21st Oct 2013

Note -- this news article is more than a year old.

Apple has blocked a mobile music service launched by a UK retailer which could have proven a competitor to its own iTunes service. The music retailer, HMV confirmed that it had been given just a few days to update its iPhone app to remove the ability to buy music through the app itself.

The app was launched last Thursday and had over 10,000 downloads by the time
it was removed by Apple.

HMV stressed that Apple's removal of the app only prevents further iPhone
users from downloading the app and those who have already downloaded the app
will continue to be able to use the app as before and will not notice any
changes to the service.

HMV added that it's developers are working to deliver an updated version of
the iOS app for Apple's approval which will retain the Image Search and Sound
Search functionality to discover music and listen to 30 second previews. The
updated app will also provide access to users' MyHMV locker to manage all HMV
downloads made via the company's own HTML online store.

HMV chairman Paul McGowan posted a series of messages over the past few days
outlining the situation before confirming today that the app had been removed.

Apple have politely asked us to remove the #hmvapp from the AppStore. We have politely declined.